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September 11, 2002 Four newcomers in Australia National Team for Nike Cup Goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, midfielders Olivia Hohnke and Tal Karp, and defender Thea Slatyer make their first senior international appearance on the North America tour. The Matildas will play two friendlies in Canada in late September before travelling to the US east coast where they face USA, Russia, and Italy for the 9th Nike US Women's Cup.
If Barbieri takes the field, she will become the first Victorian to play for Australia at senior level since Jane Oakley at the 1995 World Cup. Jane Oakley is now coaching the 22-year-olds at the Victorian Institute of Sport program. Barbieri was first identified as a potential international when named as a midfielder in the 1997 national train-on squad, and only took up goalkeeping in 1999.
Hohnke, age 24, makes her first Matildas Team after being awarded an AIS Scholarship in February. Originally from Toowoomba, Hohnke was a member of the Australian Junior Team which toured New Zealand in 1996.
Karp, age 20, has a been an AIS Scholarship holder since the beginning of the year and hails from Perth, relocating to Canberra to study Arts/Law at ANU in 1999. Karp toured Holland in 1998 with the Australian U-19 Team.
Slatyer returned from Canada two weeks ago as a member of the Young Matildas Team which finished a fantastic fifth at the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. The 19-year-old audio engineering student captained the Australian U-19s in the match against England.
Dianne Alagich returns to the green and gold after undergoing a knee reconstruction in July last year. Alagich is Australia's only current representative in WUSA having recently completed her second season with the San Jose CyberRays.
The selections come at the end of an 18-day training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport attended by an initial pool of 22 players. Uncapped defender Pam Grant ruled herself out of selection after suffering an untimely broken wrist last week in training, whilst Young Matildas attacker Caitlin Muˆ±oz endured ongoing ankle problems during camp.
The one player not at camp was Joanne Peters who will join up with the team in the US, currently playing for Santos in the Brazilian national league.
AIS/National Women's Coach Adrian Santrac is looking forward to the challenge ahead for the young Australian Team, which includes eleven players aged 23 or younger. The two preceding matches against Canada add further significant value to the tour. Canada played in the 1999 World Cup and is also preparing for the Gold Cup and Qualifiers. The Matildas return home from Canberra today and assemble again in Sydney on 21 September before travelling to Canada the following day.
Australia National Team for NIKE U.S. Cup
Barbieri, Melissa Melbourne 20/01/80 0 Davies, Rhian Sydney 05/01/81 6 Garriock, Heather Sydney 21/12/82 23 Golebiowski, Kelly Sydney 26/07/81 42 Hepperlin, Peita-Claire Canberra 24/12/81 16 Hohnke, Olivia Toowoomba 08/08/78 0 Karp, Tal Perth
30/12/81 0 Mann, April Leeton
21/04/78 7 Salisbury, Cheryl
Newcastle 08/03/74 73 Tann, Anissa Sydney 10/10/67 97 Thomas, Natalie Broken Hill 03/05/78 8 Thomson, Gill Sydney 28/08/76 5 Wainwright, Sacha Canberra 06/02/72 40 Wilson, Amy Canberra 09/06/80 29 September 26th.
Friendly versus Canada in Vancouver Nike U.S. Cup October 2nd. versus USA in Cary, North Carolina October 6th. versus Russia in Cary, North Carolina October 9th. versus Italy in Cary, North Carolina
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